slave religion

When slave religion came on the scene in the late eighteenth century, the evangelical movement was forever changed. The African Americans of this time had a rich emotional connection to their faith that was contagious to their white counterparts. This deeply rooted emotion focused on the placement and preparation that God had designed for every man. Slaves depicted Christ as a peacemaker savior that cared deeply for them. This faith allowed them to accept their current situations and become a group of levelheaded believers. The faith that evolved during this time period made a cultural impact that is still seen today.
World-renowned poet, Jupiter Hammon, was born into a family of slaves. A farmer in New York owned Jupiter and several generations of his family. His mother, fortunately, could read and write and she passed her skills onto Jupiter. Jupiter wrote many poems about his life of slavery. He wrote about the struggles he went through and his strong Christian faith. In 1760 he became the first African American published writer in America. Today his poems give us insight to see how African American faith evolved into what it is today, and how their circumstances shaped their beliefs.
Jupiter Hammons most famous poem, The Kind Master and The Dutiful Servant, is a dialogue between a master and his slave. In the conversation, the servant shows an utmost respect for his master and seems delighted to serve him. The master and the servant as they share thoughts of the Lord and his second coming. As they exchange back and forth, it becomes clear that they are in agreement about the glorious afterlife that is in store for all that believe in God. They also share that they will pray for each other. This politeness and shared fa...

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...hing “bad” happened they found a way to rejoice in the suffering. The Puritan believers were selfish with sharing their faith. A plantation missionary stated that sharing the gospel to slaves would “promote our own mortality and religion.” However the gospel and religion the masters shared with their slaves did not remain the same. The slaves were able to apply their faith to their lives, their work, and their future. The faith the slaves possessed was rich in emotion and free from preexisting regulations. In this class we focus on the many faces and interoperations of Christ that change with the seasons of history. The slave faith represented in Jupiter Hammon’s poem shows a high level of integrity and selfless, personal application of faith. The emotion and need for Christ the slaves had during this time created a new realm of relationship in the evangelical era.